A smidgen of storage space
It begins with the hostess’s kind gift of a spare

	After a joyous trip to the hardware store, The Key is bestowed

toothbrush or the host’s offer of a makeshift pajama outfit composed of an old AC/DC concert tee and a pair of flannel boxers. Why not be the one to display such a generous flourish first? If the love keeps blossoming, expect guest amenities to now include your very own mouthwash cup, square foot of storage under the bathroom sink, and two hangers-worth of closet space for business outfits and swanky shirts. After all, no one wants to eat weekend brunch in yesterday’s smoky party clothes while others are munching Belgian waffles in fresh, comfy slacks. Thus, the need for extra space at your lover’s pad. Remember, even the late Mr. Rogers liked to slip out of his work clothes and into a soft cardigan for hanging around the house.

The key exchange
Convenience and trust intersect when, still rather early on in a relationship, her plants need watering during a business trip or your bulldog needs walking on some busy evening. It dawns upon one of you that perhaps a key exchange should occur. After a joyous trip to the hardware store, The Key is bestowed. You should never ask for the key at this early stage, as it should generally be given out of practicality, not some relationship status check. Giving a key isn’t a marriage proposal or necessarily even a let’s-move-in-together feeler